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Vian averaged more than 58 points per game this season. But Friday night, they failed to score on a tough Davis defense.

BY MURRAY EVANS, For The Oklahoman •
Published: November 30, 2012

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MIDWEST CITY — How do you stop one of the highest-scoring teams in state history? Take the football away and don't give it back.

That was the successful formula for Davis on Friday night against Vian. The Wolves turned three of Vian's seven turnovers into touchdowns and dominated the Wolverines on both sides of the ball en route to a methodical 22-0 win at Rose Field in a Class 2A semifinal.

Davis senior runningback Michael Nowden outraces Vian defender Shawn Troutman as he makes his way into the end zone, scoring his team's second touchdown in the first half. Vian Wolverines play Davis Wolves in the Class 2A semifinal game Friday night, Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Rose Field, Jim Darnell Stadium in Midwest City. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman

Davis (14-0) will face Oklahoma Christian School next week in the 2A championship game, while Vian — which scored 821 points this season — closes at 13-1. Davis will be seeking its fifth state title but its first since 1995.

Because of the shutout, Vian lost its status as the highest-scoring team in state history. Frederick, which lost 55-32 to OCS in the other 2A semifinal, finished with 822 points on the season, one more than the Wolverines.

The Wolves' game plan — control the clock with their wishbone offense and take advantage of Vian's mistakes — couldn't have been executed any better. Davis' first touchdown drive took 4:46 off the clock and the Wolves' decisive scoring march — covering 93 yards — lasted for 7:58 and didn't end until eight seconds remained in the third quarter.

“We played great defense, but you've got to keep the ball from them,” Davis coach Jody Weber said. “They have too many weapons. Our kids never quit playing. They never sat on it. They came with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. We didn't play good defense last week, and we were playing against the number one scoring team in the state. I think they came to play.”

Davis' offensive numbers weren't spectacular — 231 yards and 10 first downs — but proved to be more than enough against a Vian team that couldn't get out of its own way.

On the Wolverines' first two plays, quarterback Landon Decker fumbled, then threw an interception. He finished 2-of-9 passing for 13 yards with four interceptions before exiting. His replacement, Rylee Simon, didn't fare much better, completing 5-of-12 passes for 47 yards with two interceptions.

Vian managed only 176 yards of offense after entering the game averaging 399.6 yards per game. Coach Brandon Tyler said the Wolverines didn't show the same intensity they had a week earlier in dismantling two-time defending champion Hennessey.

“We were looking forward to that Hennessey game for a year,” Tyler said. “They got what they wanted there. We were kind of flat all week. … We knew that was going to be the big issue, was trying to get our kids' heads back up. We kind of played flat tonight.